BONANZA
weekend and back home too preparing the car, and also the ANDRA
officials and Kingsley Kuchel and all his volunteers at the race track – it
was really nice to go there and we had a good time.”
McKay might have seen his Sunset Strip Nationals experience end
early after breaking out in the first round, but he says it was a worthy
sacrifice.
“We did the record in qualifying and then we had to do it again in
competition to back it up. The car broke out as there was no way I
was going to back off as I knew we had to the do the MPH to get
the record,” McKay explained while sending special thanks to his crew
chief Rhys Steer, Daniel Collins, Andrew Sanders, Mathew Despirit, M
& W Engine Service, Craig Geddes, Stewart Johnson and his wife and
daughter, Michelle and Lucy.
“We got knocked out in the first round. But it was a good feeling, as
we set the record and the car went
4.880s on a 4.90s dial in; it had
never gone that fast before .
“The Sunraysia Drag Racing
Association did an awesome job
of the track – it was the stickiest
race track I have ever raced on for
sure, and it was a great weekend.
The way the event was run was
fantastic and a big thumbs up goes
to Kingsley Kuchel for his efforts.”
Just seven weeks after resetting
the AA/CBN speed record in
Mildura, Victorian racer Cassar
broke his own record at the South
Coast Nationals and says he is keen
to do it again.
“We were going to try and rewrite
the record, we are always chasing records and we will keep on chasing
them for the rest of the season,” Cassar said while thanking his wife
Katie – they have been racing together for 23 years – as well as Denso
Auto Parts Australia, PowerPlus Racing Fuels, Shinko Tyers Australia,
Nolan Helmets Australia, Ballistic Performance Parts, Lectron Carbs
Australia and Lucas Oils.
“The Portland weekend was good for us up until the final, I am still not
sure what happened there, we got to around half track and something
happened, it jumped out of gear or maybe it didn’t go into gear – I am
pulling the bike apart trying to find out what happened and how much
damage I have done.
“Earlier we had PBed on the 60ft and the 330ft, we had the national
record and reset the track Competition Bike record to 4.58s at 145.45mph
and of course made it the finals, so overall it was good. Hopefully we
can get the bike sorted in time for the next round where we will keep
on chasing records and points.”
Joining Cassar in setting new markers in Portland was Rob Dekert, who
now lays claim to the C/AP speed record at 139.54mph thanks to the
Melbourne racer’s efforts aboard his Super Stock Pontiac GXP machine.
“We weren’t trying to set a record, the car has been fast enough to do
it for a year, we just didn’t want to touch it up – but at Portland we had
no choice, to go rounds we had to go fast!” Dekert explained.
“We went all the way to the final but we had no index left. Taking the
record doesn’t really take the sting out of missing out on the event win,
but it is not too bad to go to runner-up and the car is starting to get
better which is good.
“We are looking to race the whole series this year and do all we can
in the points and see how we go. I have to thank Unique Body Smash
Repairs, my wife Deanne and also all my crew and family for their
support - I couldn’t do this without them.”
For more on the Sunset Strip Nationals and the South Coast Nationals,
click here.
Images by Automotive Event Images